Buy-America (Solar Panel Edition)

When the US government subsidizes green technology, that is considered a good thing for the environment. But when a foreign government does it, that is considered anti-competitive:

The Commerce Department on Tuesday imposed steep duties on importers of Chinese solar panels made from certain components, asserting that the manufacturers had benefited from unfair subsidies.

The duties will range from 18.56 to 35.21 percent, the department said.

The decision, in a long-simmering trade dispute, addresses one of the main charges in a petition brought by the manufacturer SolarWorld Industries America. While it is preliminary, the ruling means that the United States will begin collecting the tariffs in advance of the final decision, expected later this year.

It is hard to see how this tariff will save jobs. Solar panel installations had been one of the bright spots of the economy — particularly in places like California’s Central Valley where there is high unemployment and high electricity bills.